The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-01-15
A Tale Of Ancient Rome.

asked the young Roman, gazing in
quiringly in the face OF his companion,
an aged and gray bearded veteran of
many wars.
"uow now, boy!' exclaimed the
old man, sHast thou not heard of the
fruit and floral festival under the charge
of the Ladies' Aid Society at the Tenn
pie of the Feretrian Jupiter on the
Capitoline"'
The youth shuddered.
81 have forgotten, good Lucius," he
said. Gone of the priests had received
a. call elsew here, and this festival is for
the purpose of raising funds to increase
his meagre salary, and thereby induce
him to remain. Am I not right:"
eyes, thou art Oh Servius."
~ shall not be there. ! attended one
entertainment OF this sort some time
ago. 1 had six scrupull in my posses
sion when I went in, but when I de-
parted had not so much as sestertius."
"Nay, nay, my boy" interposed the
old man, "thts parsimony becomes
thee not. 1t costs but one denarius to
enter"
"But what does it cost to get out 90
moodi!y muttered the youth.
"In the temple" continued Lucius,
uhou will find large and attractive
assortment of fancy goods and toilet
articles at prices far below their market
value, for they have been donated by
various tradesmen and artificers."
"But is it not taking an unfair advan-
tage of these same tradesmen and arti-
fcers," said the young man, "to sell
their goods at prices less than their
valued"
"Thou art too scrupulous," said
Lucius angrily. "But, by Jupiter, 1
will persuade thee yet. Know then
that the fair Tullia will have charge of
table. Ia! thou changesi color,
boy!"
"Listen, my Lucius,'' cried the
youth, sand thou shall know my
secret. It is my purpose to espouse the
the maiden whom thou hast named.
1t therefore behooveth me to guard
well the goods which the gods have
bestowed upon me. Were to visit the
fair should be despoiled Of all, and
my hope of wedding Tullia put forever
to flight"
"Nay, Servius, thou wrongest them,
ard by the gods, l will prove it to thee,
if thou will but 60 with me to the tenn
, pie. Why boy, a golden Tyre OF the
most exquisite workmanship and
worth hundred scrupull is to be
drawn for, and the tickets are but a
sestertius each. VINO knows but the
gods will bestow this treasure upon
: thee ~
: "Enough, O Lucius," said the youth.
81 will visit the fair, but shall remain
only short time"
"Thou hast decide wisely, Servius.
. And now 1 must away FL see the
, latter.'
That evening young Servius donned
his dress toga and pair o. red sandals
} and FASTENED to the temple of the
Fere,rain Jupiter. With his pleasure
BILE antIcpations was mingled vague
presentiment of evil, Which he found
y. it impossible to Danish. He was warm
: ly welcomed by all, including the fair
TuIla, who, when the first greeting
had been exchanged, said:
"Servius, you see youder statue Of
Minerva, il is to he given to the priest
, who receives the largest number OF
votes. How many shall l put you
: down for ?"
Give" replied the youth, with a
sinking heart. "What is the cos, o.
.sTcn scsteitii each"
The youth handed her trt bic
scrupulum aud waited for his change
When he got tired of waiting he walk
: ed moodiy away, and was Immediately
: captured by noble Roman ma,ron
who did not release him until she haC
sold him an embroidered toga three
3 sizes too small for him, and various
:, other more or less useful articles. Ane
so it went, until at last Servius ha
> spent all his ready money, and giver
9 notes for what he had at home. Blu
D. one hope sustained him he nigh
- draw the golden Tyre, which he coult
sell for hundred scrupuil. His ticke
q was numbered CNNIII., and he fan
y cied that ii had Il lucky look.
10 Finally the hour of the drawing ar
}. rived. The tickets We're all placed il
u a helmet, and the infant child of Lu
- cius thrust in her hand and took on
- ont.
IS "No. C\NIlI," announced tn
, priest, "YGuug Servius has drawn tn
u prize Servius' melancholy was nov
changed to joy, bat while he was in
g dulgirg in manifestations Of glee h
', was approached by Tullia, who said
), "Thou knowest, l suppose, Servius
II that it has been generally expected
10 that whoever drew the Tyre would do
&c nate it immediately to the temple.
u would be very bad form not TO do so.
). "Take it, then" exclaimed SeTvius